Can end

ABSTRACT

A can end having a score line defining a removable panel and a lanced pull tab mounted by means of a rivet on the panel for use in rupturing the score line and removing the panel is provided with shaped embossments in the panel for providing first and second bend lines in the panel transverse to the tab to cause the panel to bend readily during separation without requiring thumb pressure on the panel. The first bend line extends along a chordal line located rearwardly adjacent the rivet and tangent to the terminii of two arcuate extensions of one of the embossments, which extensions extend peripherally from their terminii to locations adjacent the diameter of the panel and are there linked together by a depressed region which is located under the pull tab and which cooperates with another semi-circular embossment on the other half of the panel to provide the second bend line when the tab is pulled after being pivoted upwardly to rupture the score line and to bend the panel along the first bend line.

United States Patent [191 Slade [451 Aug. 14, 1973 CAN END [75] Inventor: William J. Slade, Moorestown, NJ.

[73] Assignee: Campbell Soup Company, Camden,

[22] Filed: Jan. 24, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 220,359

[52] U.S. Cl. 220/54 [51] Int. Cl. 865d 17/24 [58] Field of Search 220/54, 48, 27, 53

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 3,662,916 5/1972 l-lolk 220/54 3,653,536 4/1972 Schrecken, 220/54 Primary Examiner-George T. Hall Mers Q!!! .W; EEE

[ 5 7] ABSTRACT A can end having a score line defining a removable panel and a lanced pull tab mounted by means of a rivet on the panel for use in rupturing the score line and removing the panel is provided with shaped embossments in the panel for providing first and second bend lines in the panel transverse to the tab to cause the panel to bend readily during separation without requiring thumb pressure on the panel. The first bend line extends along a chordal line located rearwardly adjacent the rivet and tangent to the terminii of two arcuate extensions of one of the embossments, which extensions extend peripherally from their terminii to locations adjacent the diameter of the panel and are there linked together by a depressed region which is located under the pull tab and which cooperates with another semicircular embossment on the other half of the panel to provide the second bend line when the tab is pulled after being pivoted upwardly to rupture the score line and to bend the panel along the first bend line.

2 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 14, 1973 3,752,353

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Aug. 14, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F IG] CAN END The present invention relates to can ends of the type having tear panels which are fully removable by means of attached pull tabs to permit the contents of the cans to be poured through relatively large openings.

At present, there are available cans having ends with relatively large removable center panels which are capable of being completely separated by means of attached pull tabs. An example of a can end of this type is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,478,918. Although the patented can end may operate satisfactorily, as with most can ends of this type, thumb pressure should be applied to the removable panel opening. Unless adequate thumb pressure is applied to initiate bending of the panel at the proper location, there is a tendency for the panel to remain in a substantially planar configuration during removal. Thus, a greater pulling force is required than when thumb pressure is applied, and there exists the possibility that the contents of the can may be spilled when such force is applied.

Many consumers are unaware of the desirability of applying thumb pressure to the removable panel to reduce opening forces. As a result, some consumers tend to exert a greater force on the pull tab than would otherwise be necessary, causing the pull tab or rivet or both to fail. The problem is particularly acute with respect to can ends of steel construction because conventional steel can ends normally require more opening force than aluminum can ends.

With the foregoing in mind, it is the primary object of the prevent invention to provide an improved steel can end having a removable panel which is relatively easy to separate from the can end without requiring the application of thumb pressure to the panel.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel can end having a removable panel with shaped embossments which cause the panel to bend at two locations during removal to reduce the effort required to remove the panel, and thereby reducing the possibility of spillage of the contents of the can during opening.

More specifically, in the present invention a can end having a peripheral score line defining a removable panel and a pull tab fastened to the panel by means of a rivet is provided with embossments on the panel for causing the panel to bend sequentially at two locations transverse to the tab when the tab is first pivoted to rupture part of the score line and then pulled to rupture the rest of the score line. One embossment is located on one-half of the panel and has a pair of arcuate extensions which are located outboard of the pull tab and which terminate at locations rearwardly of the rivet to cause the panel to bend along a chord extending transversely of the pull tab and adjacent the rivet when the tab is pivoted upwardly. The extensions are connected centrally of the panel by a shaped depression which has a major portion underlying the pull tab and which cooperates with another semi-circular embossment on the other half of the panel to provide a second bend line which extends along substantially the diameter of the panel. The rivet is elongated in the direction of the first bend line to prevent pivotal movement of the tab in the plane of the panel and to facilitate bending of the panel along the first bend line and initial rupture of the score line to locations adjacent the terminii of the extensions.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention should become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a can end embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but without a pull tab;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are greatly enlarged sectional views taken along lines 44 and 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3 but illustrating the tab in its upwardly-pivoted position for initially rupturing the score line of the can end bending its removable panel;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but illustrating the pull tab being pulled rearwardly to effect further rupture of the score line and bending of the removable panel; nd

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIGS. 6 and 7 but illustrating the removable panel substantially completely removed from the can end.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a can end 10 embodying the present invention. As seen therein, the can end 10 is circular in outline and is fastened onto a can 11 by means of a continuous peripheral flange along its rim 12 (FIG. 3). The can end 10 has a pair of concentric score lines 13 and 14 located inwardly of the rim 12 with the outer score lines 13 defining a circular removable panel 15. As best seen in FIG. 5, the outer score line 13 is of greater depth than the inner line 14, with the inner line providing a stress relief function which enhances complete removal of the panel 15.

In order to separate the panel 15 from the can end 10, a pull tab 16 is provided. In the illustrated embodiment, as best seen in FIG. 3, the pull tab 16 is elongated diametrically of the can end 10, and the tab 16 has a downturned nose 17 overlying the outer score 13 and an upturned finger grip 18 located substantially centrally of the panel 15. A finger-receiving aperture 19 is provided in the finger grip 18. The pull tab 16 is secured to the panel 15 by means of a rivet 20 with the tab 16 being depressed in a zone 21 surrounding the rivet so that it lays flush against the upper surface of the panel 15. The tab 16 is reinforced against transverse bending by means of two pairs of longitudinallyextending, upwardly-formed ribs 22 and 23 provided on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis A of the tab 16. The tab has an arcuate lance 24 which surrounds a major portion of the rivet 20 in the depressed portion 21 of the tab 16 and which forms a hinge line extending transversely of the tab 16 between the out-turned terminii 24', 24 of the lance 24. The hinge line in the tab 16 permits the tab 16 to be lifted away from the panel 15 a sufflcnet distance to permit a person to insert his finger in the finger-receiving aperture 19 for pivoting the tab 16 further upwardly to initiate rupture of the scope line 13 (see FIG. 6).

As noted heretofore, removal of a panel in a can end is readily effected when thumb pressure is applied to the center of the panel while pulling on the pull tab. However, since many consumers are unaware of the desirability of applying thumb pressure, they tend to apply more pulling force than otherwise would be required. As a result, the tab-mounting rivet or the tab itself may fail or the contents of the can may be spilled.

in accordance with the present invention, the aforementioned disadvantages of conventional can ends are eliminated. To accomplish this, the can end is provided with shaped embossments 30 and 31 on its removable panel to enable the panel 15 to be separated readily without requiring the application of thumb pressure. As best seen in FIG. 2, one embossment 30 is located to one side of a diametricallyextending line D and is symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis A of the tab 16. The embossment 30 has a pair of arcuate extensions 30:: and 30b located outboard of the. pull tab 16 and extending parallel to the score line 13. The extensions 30a and 30b terminate at locations substantially tangent to a chord al line B located inwardly of the rivet 20, and the extensions 30a and 30b merge into the major portion of the embossment 30 in a zone adjacent the finger-grip 18. in the present instance, the rivet 20 is elongated in the direction normal to the longitudinal axis of the pull tab to prevent pivotal movement of the tab in the plane of the panel 15. in addition, the rivet 20 is spaced inwardly of an arcuate line C which, in the present instance, has a constant radius of curvature and which extends medially of the extensions 30a and 30b of the embossment 30. Thus, when the pull tab 16 is pivoted upwardly through the position illustrated in FIG. 6, the rivet 20 inclines with respect to the normally flat plane of the panel 15 to facilitate rupture of the score line 13 to locations adjacent the terminii of the extensions 30a and 30b. By virtue of this structure, the score line 13 is ruptured to a greater extent by the pull tab 16 than heretofore possible wtih conventional easy open can ends.

in order to initiate proper bending of the panel 15,

the other embossment 31 is provided on the other half 35 of the panel 15. As best seen in FIG. 2, the embossment 31 is semicircular in outline and is located in the panel 15 on the other side of the line D. The embossments 30 and 31 are separated by means of a rib 33 which extend in chordal fashion across the panel 15 on the side of line D toward the embossment 30. The rib 33 provides a degree of transverse reinforcement to the panel 15. In the illustrated embodiment, the portion of the embossment 31 adjacent the line D extends beyond the sides of the pull tab 16 and terminates inwardly of the are C of the extensions 30a and 30b. The embossment 31 also provides a clearance below the finger grip 18 to facilitate initial gripping of the pull tab 16. With this structure, the extensions 30a and 30b cooperate to reinforce the panel 15 in the zone of the pull tab 16, so that when the pull tab 16 is pulled as illustrated in FIG. 7, the reinforced zone remains substantially planar to shear the panel along the score line 13. Moreover, the other embossment 31 causes the panel 15 to bend substantially along the diameter D of the panel 15 (FIG. 2) without requiring thumb pressure on the panel 15. The panel 15 is completely removed when the pull tab 16 is pulled further to cause the panel 15 to traverse the position illustrated in FIG. 9.

The structure of the present invention is particularly suited for use with steel can ends; however, if desired, the structure may be used with can ends of other materials such as aluminum.

in view of the foregoing, it should be apparent that a can end has now been provided with an improved structure which enables its removable panel to be separated readily without requiring thumb pressure to initiate bending of the panel at the proper location and with a minimum pull force.

While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail, various modifications, alterations or changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a can end having a score line defining a removable panel, an elongated opening tab overlying the panel for use in rupturing the panel along the score line to separate the panel from the container ends, said tab having a rupturing nose located adjacent said score line and a finger grip spaced inwardly from said nose, rivet means securing the tab to the panel inside said score line, and an arcuate lance in said tab surrounding a major portion of said rivet to define a tab hinge intermediate said nose and said rivet, the improvement comprising: an embossment on said panel having a pair of arcuate extensions inset from said score line and extending substantially parallel therewith, said extensions being located outboard of the tab and terminating in spaced relation inwardly of said nose for defining a first bend line in said panel transverse to said tab when said tab is pivoted inwardly, said embossment including a portion extending transversely to said tab for linking said pair of extensions at locations remote from their terminii, said rivet being located outwardly adjacent said first bend line so that when the tab is lifted and pivoted about its hinge to engage its nose against the score line, the panel bends along the first bend line and the rivet inclines to cause the score line to rupture initially in opposite directions from the nose to locations adjacent the terminii of the extensions, and a second embossment in said panel having a portion underlying the finger grip and extending beyond the outline thereof, said second embossment terminating inwardly of an arcuate line extending medially of said extensions to cooperate with said first-mentioned embossment to define a second bend line substantially transversely to the tab when the tab is pulled to remove the panel, whereby the panel bends readily during removal and the panel is completely removed when the finger grip is pulled upwardly.

2. A can end according to claim 1 wherein said rivet i 939%??25 hSd E qiWM sa slfist line and is located inwardly of said arcuate line. 

1. In a can end having a score line defining a removable panel, an elongated opening tab overlying the panel for use in rupturing the panel along the score line to separate the panel from the container ends, said tab having a rupturing nose located adjacent said score line and a finger grip spaced inwardly from said nose, rivet means securing the tab to the panel inside said score line, and an arcuate lance in said tab surrounding a major portion of said rivet to define a tab hinge intermediate said nose and said rivet, the improvement comprising: an embossment on said panel having a pair of arcuate extensions inset from said score line and extending substantially parallel therewith, said extensions being located outboard of the tab and terminating in spaced relation inwardly of said nose for defining a first bend line in said panel transverse to said tab when said tab is pivoted inwardly, said embossment including a portion extending transversely to said tab for linking said pair of extensions at locations remote from their terminii, said rivet being located outwardly adjacent said first bend line so that when the tab is lifted and pivoted about its hinge to engage its nose against the score line, the panel bends along the first bend line and the rivet inclines to cause the score line to rupture initially in opposite directions from the nose to locations adjacent the terminii of the extensions, and a second embossment in said panel having a portion underlying the finger grip and extending beyond the outline thereof, said second embossment terminating inwardly of an arcuate line extending medially of said extensions to cooperate with said first-mentioned embossment to define a second bend line substantially transversely to the tab when the tab is pulled to remove the panel, whereby the panel bends readily during removal and the panel is completely removed when the finger grip is pulled upwardly.
 2. A can end according to claim 1 wherein said rivet is elongated in the direction of said first bend line and is located inwardly 0f said arcuate line. 